Screw-driver.



PATBNTED 00T. 18, 1904.,

- il@ y P.. A. WAGNER I I SCREW DRIVER. 2111110111011 vFILED MAY 1v,1904.

I. I A.

Patented October 18, 1904.-

PATENT OFFICE.

PAUL A. WAGNER, 0E cARLsTADT, NEW JERSEY.

SCREW-DRIVER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters` Patent No. 772,593, dated October18, 1904..

` Application liled May 1'7, 1904. Serial No. 208,384. (No model.)

To a/Zlwhom, 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, PAUL A. WAGNER, acitizen of the United States,residing at Carlstadt, in the county of Bergen and State of New Jersey,have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Screw Drivers, ofwhich the following' is a specification.

The invention relates to screw-drivers in which the blade is separablefrom the handle; and the object of the invention is to provide meanswhereby the lblade shall be eliiciently held to resist the torsionalstrains and end thrust to which a tool'of this character is subjectedand for permitting the easyseparation of blade and handle when desired.

The invention consists in -certain novel features and arrangements ofparts by which the above objects are attained to be hereinafterdescribed.

The accompanying drawings form a part of v this specification and showan approved mannal section of the metal bushingforming thel interior ofthe handle; and Fig. 6 isan elevation of one of the halves of thebushing, show-- ing the holding-spring in position. Fig. 7 is on alarger scale and shows a cross-section through'the bushing on the line7'7 in Fig. 5. Similar lettersl lof reference indicate the same parts inall the figures.

A is the body of thehandle, which may be of wood and of any preferredshape. It isformed with a cylindrical cavity extending through the neckA axially into the body, in

'which is received a tightly-fitting tubular bushing of metal, `madepreferably in longitudinal halves, each the counterpart of the other.Each semicylindrical half B is pro vided'onits edges or margins withlips B', matching to rabbets on the other, and with a wall B2 at thelower end, forming when the halves are assembled a closed bottom for thetube or bushing. Extending longitudinally of the bushing along thecentral line of each l half` on its interior is a groove'b'. The twochannels thus formed lie diametrically opposite each other and at aright angle to the line of junction of the halves. The bushing is alsoprovided on each side with an open slot b', formed by recessing theabutting edges of each half, and C is a fiat metal or leaf spring of awidth to match to the width of the slots and received in one of thelatter. Itis curved to project into the interior of the'bushingat aboutthe mid-length. the flat ends' of the spring being received in cavitiesb2 b2, formed on the exterior of the bushing, as shown.

Mis the shaft or blade of the screw-driver,

cylindrical in cross-section and drawn or otherwise flattened at eachend to form properlyshaped bits or points M M', adapted to engage theusual slot in a screw-head. The'engaging edges of the points may be eachofv the same length, as shown, but are preferably diferent to serve withdifferent sizes of screws. In either case the flattened portion M2 mustbe of a Width to enter the grooves b of the bushing and engage therein,and the shaft should fit the tubular interior of the bushing closelyenough to be firmly supported thereby. The blade is engaged in thehandle by forcing one of the points thus entered firmly home against thebottom of the bushing, the grasp of the spring C upon the shaft servingto hold the blade with sufficient force to prevent its laccidentalrelease, but permit its withdrawal when 4desired.

D is a ferrule driven upon the upper end or neck of the handle toreinforce this portion and provide an attractive finish. y

Before inserting the bushing it may be coated with a suitable cement,aiding to resist the tendency to turn in the handle when the tool is inuse. in this respect by permitting the material of the handle to expandtherein when the bush-- The slots b b/ serve usefully- IOO Other meansthan the spring C may be employed to provide the required friction forholding the blade, and the slots b' may be omitted. rI he bushing may becast in a single piece or may be cutfrom a suitably-formed tube, thebottom B2 being simply a circular disk inserted in the recess in thehandle below such tube. The grooves b may extend only part of the lengthof the bushing.

I claiml. A screw-driver blade comprising a cylindrical shaft having aiiattened screw-engaging point at each end wider than such shaft, incombination with a handle having a longitudinal recess therein, atubular bushing in said recess having a diameter to match to said shaft,and interior grooves receiving the widened portions of one of saidpoints, and an abutment in said recess for receiving the end thrust ofsaid blade.

2. Ascrew-driver blade comprisinga cylindrical shaft having a flattenedscrew-engaging point at each end Wider than such shaft, in combinationWith a handle having a longitudinal recess therein, a tubular bushingin-said recess having a diameter to match to said shaft, and interiorgrooves receiving the widened portions of one of said points, anabutment in said recess for receiving the end thrust of said blade, anda spring in said bushing arranged to impinge against an inclosed portionof said blade.

3. A screw-driver blade comprising a cylindrical shaft having aiiattened screw-engaging point at each end wider than such shaft, incombination with a handle having a longitudinal recess therein, atubular bushing in said recess having a diameter to match to said shaft.and interior grooves receiving the widened portions of one of saidpoints, an abutment in said recess for receiving the end thrust of saidblade, the said bushing having a slot in-its Wall, and a curvedleaf-spring lying in said slot and impinging against said shaft.

4. A tool-handle having a recess extending a portion of its length, atubular bushing held in such recess and divided longitudinally into twoparts, alongitudinally-extending groove formed on the interior of eachof such semicylindrical parts, a longitudinally-extending slot in saidbushing on the line of junction of said parts, formed partly in cach, alip on each edge of each of said parts matching to a rahbet on theother, a spring extending' through said slot, and a closed bottom forsaid bushing formed partly on each of said parts, all arranged to servewith a screw-driver blade having a cylindrical shaft and a iiattenedscrew-engaging` point at each end adapted to engage in said grooves andabut against said bottom.

In testimony that I claim the invention above set forth I afliX mysignature .in presence of two witnesses.

PAUL A. WAGNER.

Witnesses:

CHARLES R. SEARLE, F. E. EocARTI-L

